k2f-cover-letter

K2F Cover Letter — AI-Native Aesthetic Design

Purpose

Teach agents to blueprint cover letters in content_and_design.md before layout: what belongs in the letter versus the resume, how to sequence persuasion (hook → proof → fit → close), and aesthetic intent (tone, hierarchy, letter density)—without inventing employers, referrals, metrics, or company facts the user did not supply.

Built on K2F

This skill produces cover letters as .K2F packages. Follow the k2f skill for authoring: unpack or init a workspace, edit the semantic tree, pack/verify, and export. K2F keeps agents on meaning (letter blocks, salutation, narrative)—not coordinates—while the engine handles layout and typography.

Before you build, install the core skill: npx skills add suzheng/k2f --skill k2f.

When to Use

• Writing or rewriting a cover letter for a specific role and company (with or without a full job description).
• Referral introductions, internal transfers, speculative applications, or career-change narratives that need framing beyond the resume.
• Adjusting tone for startup vs enterprise or creative vs formal contexts—not resumes, CVs, thank-you notes, or negotiation emails.

Workflow

Step 1. Generate the content_and_design.md

Single blueprint for letter content and design intent. Use labeled blocks (letterhead, date/recipient, opening, body paragraphs, closing, sign-off) the k2f skill can map later.

Sub-steps

1. Letter frame — Role title, company, application type (standard, referral, career change, entry-level, return-to-work), target length (250–400 words, one page, typically 3–4 body paragraphs), and tone band (formal, professional-warm, conversational-confident). Note if a job description and resume are attached.

2. Requirement map — From the JD (or user brief), list top 3–5 must-haves. Mark strengths to prove (with user-supplied metrics) and gaps to address honestly or omit. Pick one primary match for body paragraph 1 and one secondary theme (extra value, gap reframe, or company fit) for body paragraph 2.

3. Company research layer — Capture one specific, verifiable hook the user provides or confirms: product, launch, mission line, values, or challenge from the posting. If unknown, flag NEEDS USER INPUT—do not invent news or culture claims.

4. Include / cut — Include: hook, role name, two proof paragraphs (outcomes not on the resume), why-here/why-now, active close. Cut: resume summaries, salary, negativity, hobbies, duplicate CV bullets, generic work ethic, “To whom it may concern” when avoidable.

5. Opening — Pick one hook type in the blueprint: company insight, referral, JD problem-solver, achievement, or industry angle—not “I am writing to apply” or hollow self-praise.

6. Body — P1: [their need] + [your experience] + [result] from user data. P2: extra value, honest gap reframe, or deeper company tie-in. One quantified outcome when numbers exist; else metric TBD—never invent.

7. Close & recipient — Specific enthusiasm, discussion ask, brief thanks (not passive “hearing from you”). Name hiring manager if known; else Dear Hiring Manager or team salutation. Dates and addresses from user input only.

8. Design intent — Tone: employer-centric, confident, industry-matched (formal vs startup-direct). Hierarchy: hook and role scannable first; body readable; letterhead quiet. Density: one idea per short paragraph; body dominates the page. Rhythm: parallel proof sentences; one honorific and sign-off style throughout.

Rules & constraints

• Truth gate: employers, dates, referrals, metrics, and company facts trace to user input or explicit stubs.
• Non-resume gate: every paragraph must add context, narrative, or motivation not obvious from the CV.
• Specificity gate: company and role names appear correctly; no placeholder company left in final text.
• Length gate: over 400 words → cut weakest proof or merge fit into opening, not micro-type.
• Gap gate: acknowledge gaps with evidence and learning path—never fake credentials.
• Employer-focus gate: more sentences about their needs and your fit than about what you want from the job.

Common failure modes

• Generic opening or resume recap → hook + narrative the CV cannot carry.
• Missing or invented company detail → one verified beat or NEEDS USER INPUT.
• JD keyword stuffing, wrong names, passive close, apologetic career-change tone, or unconfirmed referral → fix against user sources before handoff.

Quality checklist

• Frame, requirement map (strengths/gaps), and hook type documented.
• Two body beats tie their needs to user evidence; metric or honest TBD.
• Verified why-here/why-now; active close; cut list for resume-only content.
• Design intent covers tone, hierarchy, density, sign-off for the full letter.

Step 2. Use the content_and_design.md and k2f skill to generate a K2F file and export to an appropriate file format.

Follow k2f to instantiate letter blocks from the blueprint, apply design intent, verify, and export the application-ready letter (typically PDF or DOCX).